Virginia Woolf, From A Letter To Vita Sackville-West

Virginia Woolf, from a letter to Vita Sackville-West

Cai Guo-Qiang — Explosion (gunpowder, paper, mounted on canvas, 1988)

Evening at the Iris Field by Timothy Easton (Undated, Öl auf Leinwand)

She'd expected him to either snap back with an argument, or leave her the meat and take his leave.

Such reactions would've been absolutely normal to her, understandable even. It's what she would've done if she were practically screamed at by someone she barely knew.

When he set the meat aside, she thought that was it—that he'd leave and let her calm down on her own.

But then she felt warmth hold her face, and suddenly he was closer than he'd ever been before. His voice, as soothing as the sound of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, caught her off guard.

With his forehead against hers, all she could do was listen and stare into those sunset eyes; her hands were lost, unsure what to do with themselves. Then a sudden, inexplicable feeling made itself known in her chest, not disliked or unwanted… Even if it made her eyes begin to sting.

Is this what it’s like to be comforted?

He let go and left before any real tears could form. She waited for him, just like he asked her to.

She had no idea what to do with herself in his absence, overwhelmed by the consecutive waves of emotions that had struck her all throughout the day. Her hand came up her cheek, as if feeling the ghost of his hand where it had so gently held her face.

If this really was a joke played by fate, it was an undeniably cruel one.

When he returned, she held herself as normal, refusing to let herself remain open and vulnerable… But her efforts didn’t last long, for he asked a question that had her thinking back to the unpleasantries of today.

“I… Don’t,” she answered. At first meek, but then she resumed her usual speaking tone. “And there’s no need to apologize to the human, unless you’re planning on returning one day.”

“Today was… The first and last time I’ll be venturing into the village. I’ve never liked humans, and today’s events just further proved to me why my disdain is justified.”

“But… Thank you for going back and rectifying your mistake,” she quietly said, giving him a small nod. “We’ll… Have to see if that’ll be enough to keep them out of my forest.”

₊❏❜ ⋮ i'll chase you to the ends of the earth. ⚬𓂂

@dolasach

He is used to it; however, that didn't mean he accepted it.

Rafayel sighed as he let his head rest against his palm, the same thing being drilled into his mind by the endless sea of words spewing the history of Lemuria and the world on the surface repeated like a broken record from the elders. He seemed to be falling asleep and was immediately scolded for not paying attention.

Evidently, something came up that had the elders leave the vicinity for the time being and this served as an opportunity for Rafayel to escape. He had attempted in doing so a few times, but he was sure that this time he would be able to be successful. 

A blue fish swam around him and held his hand out, allowing the fish to swim over his palm. 

"Shall we head to the surface? It's a little boring right now and I'm tired of hearing the elders saying the same thing over and over again." 

The fish continued swimming over his palm before seemingly directing him toward an opening to which he was able to squeeze through. It was then he realized that he was out of the city walls of Whalefall City and was able to swim to the surface.

He thanked the fish before it disappeared back through the city walls and Rafayel didn't have to think twice as he turned away from Whalefall City to swim up to the surface; however, before he allowed himself to fully come out, he swam slowly as the damn words from the elders rang in his head. 

"The world on the surface is dangerous, even if those people worship our Sea God, there is a chance that someone will try to capture him."

"As the previous Lemurians have..." 

"Rafayel, you must never venture out to the surface world. Your people are here, that is all that should concern you." 

And the annoying part of all. "The Sea God will one day meet the Goddess of the Forest, and when that day comes, should he fall in love with her, it will be the beginning of the downfall of Lemuria."

Rafayel always thought it to be those stories to be something a parent would tell to their child to make them listen. And besides, Rafayel had always been, not only a rebellious soul, but one of sheer curiosity. 

Once he peeked out from the water, he spotted a woman by the shore. And he had seen a few other humans before, but something about her was different and he couldn't help but to swim towards the shore, closer to her. Who could she be? For some reason... he needed to know and while he doesn't know why he needs to, he simply just has to try; in a way, it felt as though there were residual feelings, feelings that weren't from him and that in itself baffled him.

So without thinking, his mouth opened to speak.

"Who might you be? You don't seem... human to me, although you do appear to be." He tilted his head briefly before letting out a laugh. "Ah, apologies. This is bold of me, I will admit."

House Plants (1964)